I swallowed hard as I stared straight at the calm and peaceful water.
“And you did marry your soulmate and have two beautiful children.” I gave her a small smile as I glanced at her.
“I did. How did you know?”
“I saw your profile picture on your Facebook page. Your children are beautiful, Brianna.”
“Thank you, Asher. How about you? What’s going on with you?”
“I work a lot.” I smirked. “There really isn’t much time for anything else.”
“Are you still seeing Everly?”
“Not really. But I’m hoping to change all that.”
“Why don’t you come to the house for dinner tonight. I’d love for you to meet my husband. I know the two of you would get along great.”
“Thanks for the offer and I’m sure he’s a really great guy, but I need to get back to New York.”
“You know I only go for the great guys.” She smiled as she nudged my shoulder with hers.
The limo drove us back to her office and into the parking garage where her car was parked.
“It was really good to see you, Asher. I mean that.” She placed her hand on mine.
“It was good to see you too, Brianna.”
“Next time you’re in Los Angeles, give me a call. That dinner invitation is always open. Here’s my number.” She handed me her business card.
“I will.”
“Have a safe flight home.” She smiled as she climbed out of the limo.
31
Everly
It was nine o’clock by the time I got home. Samantha’s mother had stopped in the shop and insisted I joined them for dinner. She had always been such a good cook and a home cooked meal was exactly what I needed. I hadn’t cooked at all in the past few weeks. Unless you consider making a sandwich, cooking. It was always that I didn’t have time, was too tired, or too sad to cook anything. So I took the easy way out and ordered take out. As I was approaching my house, I could see the shadow of a person sitting on my porch.
“What the hell?” I said as a nervousness crept up inside me. I wasn’t sure if the person was deceased or alive.
The closer I got, the more the person came into focus. I couldn’t believe it when I saw it was Asher. Pulling in the driveway, I parked the car and climbed out.
“Do you always just sit on random people’s porches when they’re not home?”
The corners of his mouth curved upward.
“You’re not a random person, Miss King.”
“What are you doing here, Asher?” I asked with a hint of irritation as I walked past him and unlocked the front door.
“I need to talk to you.”
I sighed as I stepped inside and flipped on the light switch.
“I’m not playing this game anymore. You kick me out, then you need to talk, kick me out, need to talk.”
I set my purse down on the bench in the foyer and went into the kitchen.
“I know and I’m sorry.” He followed behind. “I’m here to apologize to you.”
“A simple text would have sufficed,” I said as I opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of wine.
“I suppose I could have sent you a text, but I figured an in-person apology would be much more sincere.”
“Wine?” I held up the bottle.
“No, thank you. How are you, Everly?”
“I’m good, Asher. I’m really fucking good,” I spoke sarcastically.
“You’re being a smart ass again.” He smiled. “I was beginning to think you weren’t ever coming home. May I ask where you were?”
“With my boyfriend. On a date.”
“You’re lying.” A smirk crossed his lips. “No man besides me would put up with you.”
“Well, that may be true, but you don’t put up with me either.” I held up my glass before bringing it to my lips.
“Have I told you how beautiful you are? Oh shit. Hold on a second,” he said as he walked out the front door. Within seconds, he walked back into the kitchen holding a beautiful bouquet of red roses. “For you, madame.”
“Thank you. What are these for?” I took them and brought them up to my nose.
“I believe I read somewhere that red roses symbolize affection, love and admiration.”
“And?” I arched my brow at him.
“All three of those words apply to you. I missed you, Everly. God, I’ve missed you so much.”
“Really? Because I do believe the last words you said to me were, ‘Get out, Everly. Just go.’”
I turned to the cabinet and took down a vase.
“I know what I said and I’m sorry.”
“You know what?” I turned and looked at him as I set the vase on the counter. “I don’t think I’ve ever met a man who is sorry as much as you are.”
“See there. What does that tell you?” He grinned.
“It tells me that you speak before you think, and you react before you think.”
He stood there and narrowed his eye at me.
“You’re right. You are one hundred percent right. And again, I’m sorry. Listen, Everly, I’m an asshole. I admit it. I’ve said things to you that I’m not proud of, but I’m not that person. At least not anymore.”
“Since when?”
“Since the moment I realized that I need you in my life. I went and talked to Brianna. It’s not that I didn’t believe you. I just needed to hear it from her mouth. I needed to hear her say my father was responsible.”
“And how did that go?”
“It went really well. We talked and then I left. She’s happily married with two beautiful children.”
“That’s great, Asher. I’m happy for you. Now maybe your father will find some peace and leave me the hell alone.”
“Have you seen him again?”
“Not since that night.”
“Good. I probably scared him straight to Hell.”
I couldn’t help but let out a laugh.
“I’m serious. I had a talk with him. I told him exactly how I felt and what I thought about him.”
“Did it make you feel better?” I asked as I arranged the roses in the vase.
“It did. It made me feel a lot better.” A smirk crossed his lips. He walked over to where I stood and took hold of both my hands and held them in his. “I never meant to hurt you, Everly. I know that’s probably hard for you to believe, but it’s the truth.”
The problem with Asher was he always apologized, expected sex, and thought everything was good. But this time, I wasn’t going to give into him. I’d been yelled at, kicked out of his place and been told he never wanted to see me again one too many times.
“Thank you, Asher. I appreciate it.” My lips gave way to a tender smile.
He brought his hand up to my cheek and softly stroked it as his sexy eyes stared into mine.
“I’ll never hurt you again. I promise,” he spoke with sincerity.
“So, are you flying back to New York tonight?” I asked.
“No. It’s late. I figured I’d stay for a while.”
“What about the company?”